THE HAGUE, Dec 17 (Hina) - Addressing the UN war crimes tribunal in The Hague at the end of his trial on Wednesday, Bosnian Croat General Tihomir Blaskic voiced regret over all war victims in central Bosnia, saying that his conscience
was clean and that he was confident that he had done everything to prevent crimes and investigate those committed.
THE HAGUE, Dec 17 (Hina) - Addressing the UN war crimes tribunal in
The Hague at the end of his trial on Wednesday, Bosnian Croat
General Tihomir Blaskic voiced regret over all war victims in
central Bosnia, saying that his conscience was clean and that he was
confident that he had done everything to prevent crimes and
investigate those committed. #L#
"I feel sorry for all the victims of this war, particularly the
Muslims, who suffered at the hands of individuals and groups from
the Croat Defence Council (HVO)," the former commander of the
Central Bosnia Operations Zone told judges at the end of his trial
which lasted almost eight years, being the longest one in the
tribunal's 11-year history.
The Appeals Chamber now withdraws for deliberation and should pass
a final ruling next year. Its chairman Fausto Pocar said the final
verdict would be reached "in the foreseeable future".
In March 2000 Blaskic was sentenced to 45 years in prison for crimes
committed in central Bosnia pending appeal. The gravest crime of
which he was found guilty was the massacre of more than 100 Muslims
in the village of Ahmici on 16 April 1993.
Blaskic told the Appeals Chamber that he had never ordered any
crime, including the one at Ahmici, and that he had done everything
in his power to prevent crimes.
At the age of 32 and with the experience of commanding a unit of not
more than 120 men, Blaskic accepted the request of Kiseljak
Municipality to take over the defence against Serb forces of the
entire zone, which had a mixed Croat-Muslim population and where
his parents lived.
Blaskic said that he did not resign after the crime in Ahmici
because the Croat population was completely encircled at the time,
although he was aware that he might have never been indicted, if he
had done so.
"I wish I could explain to you how difficult it was for me and my
family when I was sentenced for crimes which I had not ordered or
committed," Blaskic said in his 15-minute address.
Blaskic's last address to the court was followed by his wife Ratka,
who sat in the court gallery crying silently.
(hina) rml sb